Auburn police officer among 10 people charged in child sex sting operation

Ten people, including an Auburn police officer, have been charged in connection with an online child predator sting operation, prosecutors said.

Dominick Boschetto, 31, was held on a $5,000 cash bail for charges of paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18 and enticing a child under 16, according to court documents. Boschetto pleaded not guilty on Tuesday during his arraignment in the Southern Berkshire County District Court. 

The pre-trial hearing for Boschetto is scheduled for April 28. 

According to a probable cause report filed with the court, the Massachusetts State Police, Berkshire Detective Unit, conducted an undercover human trafficking operation to target individuals seeking to engage in prostitution related offenses.

During the week of April 6, an undercover cop created an online advertisement for an escort service. 

On Saturday, April 12, the report says Boschetto, through phone calls and text messages, agreed to sexual acts with a 15-year-old female teenager, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. 

In two phone calls, Boschetto allegedly arranged to pay for sex, even after learning the girl was 15 years old. Following up in later texts, he questioned if she was “worth the risks” and engaged in messages to send pictures for money instead, according to the report.

Police reportedly tracked the phone number used in the communications to Boschetto.

Auburn Police Chief Todd Lemon said in a statement that the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit arrested Boschetto at the Auburn Police Department on Monday. 

Boschetto, a resident of Brookfield, has been a police officer for Auburn since March 2023. 

The chief placed Boschetto on administrative leave, per policy, and initiated an internal investigation that will run parallel to the criminal investigation. The allegations against Boschetto do not involve on-duty conduct. 

“We work hard every day to maintain the public’s trust, and while this matter is extremely concerning, it is not a reflection of the hard-working men and women of the Auburn Police Department as a whole,” Lemon said. 

The department said in a statement Tuesday that it is directing “all case related questions” to the DA’s office but addressed the matter as a personnel issue.

“We are deeply saddened and angry with his actions,” the department wrote in the statement. “On top of his administrative leave, his Firearms License was suspended and an internal affairs investigation has been initiated. He will be held accountable to the highest standard possible.”

Boschetto is the latest police officer caught in a child sex trafficking sting. A Fall River police officer was arrested earlier this month for allegedly texting a 15-year-old for sex and carrying cocaine. 

Nine more people facing charges in sting operation

Nine other people have been charged in connection with the operation, the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. The defendants were arraigned in either Central Berkshire District Court or Great Barrington District Court.

The other nine defendants are Sydney Brodrick, 21; Ted Crosby, 56; Roger Prell, 67; Dana Brookman, 31; Kevin-Eduardo Miranda-Hernandez, 26; Jonathan Kornbluth, 45; Forhad Chowdhury, 40; Jean Arce, 39; and Stevenson Clercidor.

The defendants are facing a range of charges, including sexual conduct for a fee, paying for sex with a child under 18, enticing a child under 16, posing or exhibiting a child in a sexual act, possession of obscene material, distribution of obscene material, disseminating obscene matter to a minor, attempting to commit a crime, procuring liquor for a person under 21, and drug possession, the DA’s office said.

“The utilization of grant funding and the dedicated work of our Law Enforcement Task Force allowed us to apprehend those looking to abuse our most vulnerable population, children,” District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue said in the statement.

The investigation was partially funded by the Human Trafficking Enforcement grant awarded to the DA’s office by Governor Maura Healey.

“Sex trafficking is far more prevalent than most people realize,” Shugrue said in the statement. “Through the Governor’s support, we are able to devote resources to disrupt and apprehend criminals looking to exploit victims of human trafficking.”

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